LOS ANGELES _ The MRI exam Kyle Kuzma received Thursday confirmed he has a bruised lower back and he's listed as questionable for the Los Angeles Lakers' game against the New York Knicks on Friday at Staples Center.
Kuzma was injured during the second quarter of the Lakers' loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night and continued to play until the pain became too severe.
He eventually left the game with 4 minutes and 54 seconds left in the second quarter and never returned. Kuzma, who has played in all 38 games this season, is second on the Lakers in scoring (18.3) and fourth in rebounding (5.8).
The Lakers are already shorthanded with LeBron James (strained left groin) and Rajon Rondo (right ring finger surgery) recovering from injuries.
"It's definitely a challenge. But I feel like everybody, especially in the beginning of the season, coach (Luke Walton) was telling us everybody has to be ready, so the next man has to be ready," Lakers center JaVale McGee said Wednesday night. "I feel like our team is really good at that and everybody is focused on what they need to do to help the team."
Even McGee is not 100 percent healthy. He returned to the lineup the last two games after he had missed the previous seven dealing with pneumonia.
"Stamina-wise, definitely I'm trying to get there. It's obviously better," McGee said. "I at least feel normal rather than what I was feeling. But, yeah, it's still got to get there. I'm probably a game away."
